The six-count indictment includes the charge of "attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction." Northwest Flight 253 carried 289 passengers and crew.

The 23-year old Nigerian was also charged with a count of "attempted murder within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the U.S." with a third charge being the "willful attempt to destroy and wreck and aircraft within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the U.S."

Abdulmutallab faces life in prison if convicted.

The Nigerian's attempt to bomb the plane has shaken the Obama White House and the nation's counterterrorism and homeland security establishment, not to mention the flying public.

Despite having intelligence on Abdulmuttalab as well as the plans of al-Qaida in Yemen to use a Nigerian in a terror attack, officials failed to connect the dots. That resulted in Abdulmutallab being allowed to board a plane carrying a bomb. Obama has vowed to correct the mistakes and said he won't tolerate a repeat.